So you think Linux is free? You pay Red Hat to make the Linux experience easier, and it's worth every penny. Red Hat compiles Linux and a huge number of additional packages into a few CDs, eases the installation process, and provides a measure of stability and reliability by including only Linux packages that it has tested and approved.

Also, Red Hat is a source of technical support on the many packages that come with its Linux distribution. Given the large amount of included software and the many menu choices and configuration options, the end result can be bewildering or tantalizing, depending on your viewpoint.

Based on the Linux Kernel 2.4.18, both the Personal edition ($59.95 direct) and Professional edition ($199.95) contain many new software components, such as the new KDE 3.0 graphical desktop environment with its Windows-like tools for desktop configuration and other tasks.

Alas, these tools do not stack up to the more polished and powerful Microsoft products most desktop users are accustomed to. But they are simple to use and deliver business basics much more affordably than their Microsoft counterparts. For those wishing to use Linux as a server OS, both editions of Red Hat have Apache Web server v1.3, sendmail, FTP, DNS, and print services.

Installation was easy. The product supported all of our hardware, and configuring our local network and Internet connection proved easier than we expected. Many will appreciate the personal firewall that can protect your desktop or small network from incoming hacks.

The Red Hat Start menu gives you a dizzying array of choices, but more can be done with the GUI to guide the user through common tasks, such as installing new software (done through the Linux RPM package at the command line) and making network connections. Also, connecting to Windows servers and desktops could be much improved, given the dominance of Windows.

Keeping up to date with the latest Linux patches is a challenge. The Red Hat Network subscription service ($59.95 per year) lets you download new packages from Red Hat as they become available. The Professional version has full printed documentation, longer support periods, and telephone support for installation during the first 60 days.

All in all, Red Hat Linux offers an inexpensive entry point into the Linux world and control over the often changing open-source software landscape.

About the Author

Rob Lipschutz is PC Magazine's Lead Analyst for Business and Networking. He is responsible for our coverage of networking, and of services and software targeted at the unique needs of smaller businesses. As former Technical Director, Networking for PC Magazine, he just can't get these products out of his blood. Rob has written three books and num... See Full Bio

Red Hat Linux 7.3

Red Hat Linux 7.3

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